Grata nera 1952

Mario Ballocco made "Grata nera" using what looks like oil on canvas, and you can see that the making of this painting was a process of arranging shapes, a balancing act with just three tones. The surface of the painting is really interesting, especially where the solid black meets the white and grey; the paint handling in these areas is precise, it's as if the shapes have been stenciled onto the canvas. Ballocco has applied thin layers of paint, so the surface is smooth. It's quite a contrast to the way I like to work, where the paint is piled on, but I can really appreciate this reductive approach. This piece reminds me of the paintings of Carmen Herrera, who also worked with these hard-edged shapes to explore space and form. It's really amazing how artists can take such simple elements and create something that really makes you think.